Rainfed Agriculture Introduction: Rainfed agriculture hinges the food and

livelihood security of a large number of people worldwide (Rockstro¨m et al., 2010).

Communities in the arid and semi-arid zones of the world are faced with food deficits almost on an annual basis due to crop failure (Makurira, 2010).

Water scarcity is the biggest threat to food self-sufficiency, which seems to exert even stronger influence on rainfed agriculture in future (de Fraiture et al., 2007; Hoff et al., 2009; Kijne et al., 2009).

The scarcity of water for food production particularly through agricultural droughts and dry spells will be a big challenge for water management (Savenije, 1998, Rockström, 2003).

CONT… One of the major crop production constraints in semi-arid

areas is short growing period, short term rainfall with high runoff and moisture deficit (Madalcho. and Sido, 2015).

In such area, in-situ rainwater harvesting techniques are very crucial. The in-situ moisture conservation methods influenced soil water availability and subsequent vegetative growth and yield (Sudhishri et al., 2008; Dass et al., 2011 and Manyatsi et al., 2011).

Under such situations, alternate land use systems are receiving greater attention in many countries to protect the land from various types of degradation, diversifying the farming system and increasing the soil carbon build up and moisture (Masebo et al., 2014; Lenka et al., 2012; Singh and Pandey, 2011; Lithourgidis et al., 2011).

CONT… Water is crucial input for augmenting agricultural production

towards sustainability in rainfed agriculture which depends to a great extent on water saving technologies and its efficient rainwater management.

Proper mechanical and vegetative structure can help to conserve the rainwater in-situ and provide the quite essential moisture for crop growth.

There are several soil and water conservation measures for reduction of runoff and soil loss, such as strip cropping, contour and graded bunding etc. Which not only controls the runoff more efficiently but also curtails the soil loss and enhanced the crop yield.

Developing technologies to increase agricultural water-use efficiency (WUE) through water harvesting and conservation is a need and majority of the farmers have been ignorant and unconfident of growing crops on dry lands (Allolli, 2008).

CONT… Horticulture has assumed significant importance in the crop

diversification in recent years, which has become essential to arrest serious land degradation and enhancing the farm income.

Horticulture crops like citrus (citru sp.), guava (Psidium guajava), Bael (Aegle marmelos) and ber (Ziziphus mauritiana) play important role in enhancing farm income in vulnerable rainfed areas. Hardy fruit crops have better choice in these areas. Awasthi and Pareek (2008)

Utilization of inter-space between trees can improve soil nutrient and biological characteristics, physical properties, enhancing total biomass production and further improve farmer’s income from a unit land. Agri-horti system is one of the most important cropping systems (Singh et al., 2013).

CONT… Legume crops intercropped in tropical fruit tree

production may act as important cash and trap crops. Apart from fixing atmospheric N2, recycling nutrients and improving soil nutrient availability, they also help reducing erosion risks and organic matter losses (Lehmann et al., 2000).

Conjunction vegetables with Horticultural trees enhance the soil fertility and crops productivity.

Main Constraints of Rainfed Agriculture Deforestation and shifting cultivation Soil erosion and degradation of hills Flooding in plains Low water quality for irrigation Lack of water resources Lack of sufficient transport and communication Technology gaps in agriculture and animal husbandry Rainfed agriculture affected by undependable and highly variable pattern Poor socio-economic system of the farmers

Strategies For Development Soil and water conservation measures Control in shifting cultivation Mushroom cultivation, sericulture and growing horticulture crops like pine apple,

mandarin orange pomegranate, Guava and citrus Drainage, land grading and storage of excess water in flood prone areas Augmenting irrigation sources and multiple cropping Extensive live stock development

Thank you so much

Kindly suggestions and questions

Prepared by Naqibullah(Amir)ShinwariHead of Vegetables Development and Management